Method of treating petroleum vapor



' Nov. 20,1923. a

' D. W. HOGE 7 METHOD OF TREATING PETROLEUM VAPOR Original Filed May 25, 191a lllI/lll i citizen; of the United States,

Patented NomQZO, 1923.

DANIEL w.-'- noer., or cnrcaeo,

ILLInoIs, ASSIGNOR 'ro BASH 611. AND nnrmmq COMPANY, OF CHIOAGP, ILLINOIS, A CORIPORATION' OF DELAWARE.

' ri nrnon or 'rnrn'rme r TnoLEUM veroit- Application filed May 25, 1918,.S eria1 No. 236,449. Renewed-'August 21', 1928'.

To all whom it mag concern: I

Be it known that I, DANIEL W. Hours, a residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Treating Petroleum Vapor, of which thefollowing is a specification} high boiling point compounds into low boil-- This invention relates to a method of treating petroleum vapor tobreak down the mg point compounds having the characteristics line. g

Large quantities of'the heavier fractions of petroleum are available because the vdemand therefor cannot be stimulated beyond a certain point which leaves a considerable residue in the hands of the refiners who are accordingly-anxious to find any 'means of utilizing these by-products. I have discovered a method of and apparatus for treating petroleum and the heavier fractions thereof whereby this material is converted into low boiling point compounds which may be utilized as commercial gasoline in inter nal combustion engines and for'other purposes to which commercial gasoline is adapted.

It is the object therefore of my invention to providea method ofoperating whereby the vapors of petroleum and the heavier fractions thereof are readily and cheaply converted into materials analogous to and ing: the purpose of gasoline.-

*urther objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as it is better understood by referenceto the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating the pre ferred embodiment thereof, in which 7 Figure 1 is a diagrammatical illustration of an apparatus adapted for use in carrying out lily-method;

.Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through treats and I \Figure 3 is a transverse section through the same'apparatus.

Figure 1 is intended merely to diagramthe a paratus in which the vapors are I v ing treated. The=coil may be made wlth a header 29" matically illustrate'the apparatus so that D the purpose and function of my invention t'rol eum or heavier fractions thereof -is may be clearly understood. In this figure, 5 illustrates a suitable still in which the pe- 13 conveys the product of the method of those present in commercial gaso-'- volatilized and 6, illustrates "a condenser where the final products are received. The v apparatus 7 in which the vapors are treated is supported in a suitablefurnace 8 heated by means of a burner 9 and is connected by "constructed of cast metal andv adapted to holda bath of molten lead or'other suitable metal or-heat interchanging material. l/Vitha in this bath is a tortuous conductor for va ipe por preferably cast integral and comprising U shaped conducting pipes 15 connected at their upper ends to a'header 16 provided -with partitions 17 arranged so that the vapor passes through each of the U pipes .15

1n succession. These partitions form small end chambers 19 and double intermediate chambers 20 with which the pipes are'connected; Threaded plugs 18 in the top 'of the header 16 permit access to the interior of the pipes 15 to remove obstructions which may 'occurtherein. One or more kettles 14 are mounted in the furnace 8 which is provided with one or more burners 9 whereby the desired temperature is maintained. The

lead is thus heldin a molten condition at a uniform temperature which m ybe varied and regulated at 'will.

In carrfing out my invention the vaporfrom the still 5 is delivered to the apparatus 7 under a pressure suflicint to maintain a predetermined rate of flow but without redestructive point. of a cast iron pan and depends upon the character ofithe vapor-belong by 315'. wide by 3%" high "lation to the maintainance' of any degree of temperature. In-normal operation the vewith 2'. pipes mounted therein 0113i" cenw I ters. At. each end ofjthe' headen there-is a small chamber 19 approximately 2%" wide by 2%" high by 2 mediate chambers each 2%" wide high by 7 long. The kettle is of.

' long and three inter by 22'! sufiicient slzfe'fto receive the coil and subm rge t l ii bath of lead. I prefer that the lead level shall be approximately atthe top of the header. In treating gas oil and fuel distil late a temperature ranging from 850 F. at the beg inning of the run to a maximum of 1200 at theend of the run has been used: It will bedistinctly understood, however, that I do not restrict myself to the foregoing specific details with regard to my invention asv the sameare given merely for the purposeof making theinvention clearly un 'derstood and not to limit its scope. v

The temperature of the vapor varies according to the quality of the vapor being treated. and may range from 650 F. to 1100 F. L

Itwill be noted that thecross SECtlOIlfil area of the pipes 15 is relatively slight as compared. to the total length of the combined pipes. This permits substantially all of. the ,lvapor to contact directly with the walls of the pipes during the passage of the vapor at substantially .the velocity above noted. '.I have discovered, however, that it is essential to break up the flowing stream of vapor at intervals during its passage through theapparatus in order to insure that all of the vapor contacts with the heat-' ed walls of the pipes. In the apparatus illustrated and described itwill be noted that vapor issuing from the upper end of the second leg of each of the pipes 15 1mpinges directly and with considerable force against the top of the header 16. Thus the vapor. is thoroughly mixed and deflected into the first leg of each of the pipes 15 and during the progress of the 'vapor through the apparatus every molecule of hlgh bOlling point compound in the vapor contacts with the highly heated walls of the, pipes- 15 and is through the action of the heat disrupted or broken down into low boiling point compounds having the characteristics of commercial gasoline. 7

This result is accomplished in the apparatus while under substantially no pressure so that the method may "be carried out with perfect safety and under conditions insuring the highest efii'ciency. A

- The claims of the present application are directed to the action on the'vapor which 1 takes place at the upper end of the second Ser. No. 105,584, filed G0 leg of each of the substantially U-shaped pipes, as distinguished from the-action on. the vap0r wh1ch takes place at the abrupt bends at the lower ends'of'thepipes, which latter action constitutes the subject matter of the claims of my co-pending application,

, une 24, 1916.

I claim:

1. A method leum or the heavier fractions thereof which comprises, conducting the vapor under a of impingement.

of treating vapor of petropressure sufiicient only to cause it to ad- Vance through areaction zone of relatively great lengthiand smallcross sectional area, maintaining said vapor during its passage through said reaction. zone at a substantially uniform temperature suficient to break down compounds having high boiling '7 points ,into. compounds. having relatively low boiling points, subjecting the stream of' vapor during its movement through said reaction zone to successive abrupt impinge-' ments, and permitting the vapor to flow 7 unobstr'uctedly through .the reaction zone portions lying between the successive points 2, A'method of treating vapor of pe-' troleum or the heavier fractions thereof which comprises, conducting the vapor under a pressure sufiicient only to ,cause the vaporto advance through a reaction zone of relatively great length and small cross sectional area, maintaining the vapor during its passage throu said reaction zone at a substantially uniform temperature between 650 F. and 1100 F. suflicient to" break down compounds having high boiling points into compounds having relatively 9.0 low boiling points, subjecting the stream of vapor during its movement through'saidf reaction zone to successive abrupt impinge ments, and'per-mitting the vapor to flow un-A obstructedly through the reaction zone portions lying'between the successive points of impingement. j

3. A method of treating petroleum or the heavier fractions thereof to produce a condensate containin lowboiling point compounds" having t e characteristics. of

those present in commercial gasoline which comprises, subjecting the. petroleum or heavier fractions thereof to heat sufficient to convert it into vapor, and subjecting a continuous flowing-stretrmof the vapor, in

a separate reaction zone of relatively great; Q

length and small cross sectional area and d at a pressure suificient only to cause the stream of vapor. to advance through said reaction zone, to a substantially uniform temperature sufiicientto break down the compounds having high boiling. points into compounds having relatively low boiling points, subjecting the stream of vapor during its movement through said reaction zone to successive abrupt impingements,

and permitting the vapor to flow unobstructedly through the reaction zone portions lying between the successive points of impingement. a

DANIEL W. HUGE. I

Witnesses: ERNEST H. MERCHANT,

M. A. KIDDIE. 

